Image credit: ArenaNet, NC, bilibili

Guild Wars, the legendary MMO series from ArenaNet, somehow never expanded into the collectible card game (CCG) genre. This will soon change, however, as Mistbound: Guild Wars Card Game was just revealed.

Mistbound is a free-to-play card game that's in development for PC and mobile platforms. It's set in the Guild Wars universe, and is the result of an unusual alliance of three companies. ArenaNet has licensed the IP to bilibili, which will be publishing the game, but development will instead be handled by Korean studio NC (formerly NCSoft).

Yes, that's the bilibili you're thinking of, “the Chinese YouTube". The company does have other products that extend beyond live streaming and video sharing, and this isn't even the first game it published in the West.

Mistbound's headline feature is the ability to move cards in multiple directions each turn. This opens up gameplay to include more action game-oriented moves, such as flanking, changing positions, knockbacks, and more. We get an early look at how that actually works in the reveal trailer above, which includes gameplay footage.

The game will support single-player and PvP modes. Battles take place on a 5x3 grid, where you can pick a commander, and unleash your cards in turn-based combat.

Seeing as it's set in the world of the MMO, you'll get to meet characters from the Guild Wars games, who return as selectable commanders. Each commander comes with unique passive traits and active abilities. Their different gameplay identities are inspired by Guild Wars 2's Professions, which is a nice touch.

Image credit: ArenaNet, NC, bilibili

The developer says it wants to bridge the gap between deck-building and MMO, and Mistbound will include music from original Guild Wars composers, as well as voice acting. Unfortunately, today's reveal does not tell us anything about how the game will monetise its collection of cards, an aspect of the genre that can make or break the longevity of a game (just ask Hearthstone).

The reveal of Guild Wars 3 at Summer Game Fest earlier this month was one of the show's biggest announcements. The MMO will be releasing in a different world than its predecessors, however, so it was heartening to see ArenaNet shoot down the idea of pay-to-win microtransactions and subscription fees out of the gate.

Will the same be true for Mistbound: Guild Wars Card Game? Only time will tell. The CCG does not yet have a release target, but you can follow the official website for updates.

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